Fast Facts About Home Depot Background Checks

Home Depot ranks among the largest employers in the United States today, employing roughly half a million people. A long-term fixture in the “big box store” space, Home Depot operates a hardware store built on a brand of helpfulness. Workers in the store interact with customers frequently, answering questions or giving home improvement advice. Some even consult directly with clients on work in-home, while others work as independent contractors. Finding the right fit for each role is vital to Home Depot, and background checks play a crucial role in that process.

In this article, we’ll look at answers to important questions such as “Does Home Depot do background checks?” and more. Knowing what to expect is helpful for those preparing to apply. Read on for the key things to know and facts about your next steps.

Does Home Depot Make You Pass a Background Check?

Yes, you can expect to need to pass a criminal background check before you can work at Home Depot. However, you will still have a chance to go through a job interview first. Home Depot is a company that bans the box on its applications. The company does whether or not there are any local ban the box laws. Banning the box means the company does not ask about someone’s criminal history on the application. No check box exists for a candidate to say, “Yes, I have a felony criminal record.”

Home Depot will still order a criminal background check later in the hiring process. Usually, you will receive a conditional job offer. This offer may also have a successful drug test as a prerequisite for hiring. You will need a hiring manager to sign off on the results of your check to receive a final job offer.

Will Home Depot Hire You Without Screening You First?

Under federal laws such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you must consent to screening. The company cannot compel you to submit to a background check. However, it is a requirement for hiring. Home Depot won’t hire you without a completed check.

You have the right to decline, but doing so constitutes ending the hiring process. Instead of declining, you should know what to expect. Understanding what’s in your background check helps with your next steps. You may choose to disclose evidence of rehabilitation or other factors if necessary.

Who Has to Have a Background Check at Home Depot?

Companies that use background checks must do so reasonably. As part of fair hiring practices, businesses should strive to apply screening policies equally across their workforce. Some workers may undergo additional levels of screening by law. However, companies generally won’t make exceptions for individuals that allow for bypassing the background check. Home Depot screens all job applicants. This policy includes those applying for common positions such as:

• Store associates, such as cashiers and clerks
• Hardware repair technicians
• Customer service crews
• Merchandising employees
• Forklift operator

Screening also takes place for warehouse and corporate employees.

Factors Home Depot May Evaluate During Background Screening

The goal of screening applicants is easy to understand: protect companies and their customers. Home Depot wants to avoid potentially negligent hiring. To do so, they must review several factors. One’s criminal background is among those key factors. Home Depot’s hiring managers look for troublesome signs and potential red flags that may indicate someone is a risky choice. Red flags include violent crimes, multiple criminal convictions, high-level drug crimes and other serious charges.

Home Depot may also verify information supplied on a resume. Managers may contact previous employers to conduct an employment verification. In some cases, they may even carry out an educational history verification. Reference checks may occur.

Applicants for certain positions may have other elements of their background screened. For example, someone operating vehicles will need a Department of Transportation check of driving records. That search includes examining an applicant’s motor vehicle record, or MVR. Some states allow businesses to screen credit reports for those in positions of financial responsibility.

How Far Back Does Home Depot Check for Criminal Records?

There is no public information about how far back Home Depot checks criminal records. However, the company uses a third-party screening provider. “Lookback” periods can vary by provider and state; some states limit the age of records that companies may report. The FCRA prohibits reporting certain types of non-conviction information after seven years. However, convictions may remain on a report indefinitely. If an individual has a past conviction, there is a chance it could appear on Home Depot’s report.

What Does Home Depot Need to Start a Background Check?

Criminal record matching occurs most often by comparing an applicant’s name and date of birth to those in criminal records. Home Depot will use this information to order a background check. In cases where a credit history check is necessary, applicants must share their Social Security numbers. Applicants must provide their driver’s license number if applying for a position that involves driving or operating heavy machinery. According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, Home Depot also needs an applicant’s signed consent form.

How Long Do I Have to Wait for a Home Depot Background Check?

Background check turnaround times can vary. Many factors can impact how long it takes to complete a check. Some may take fewer than 24 hours to acquire and evaluate. Others may take several business days or even a week or more. An applicant’s state, the store’s hiring backlog, and issues with state-level systems can cause delays. However, since Home Depot only screens after making a conditional offer of employment, applicants should hear back promptly when they pass.

Next Steps if You Don’t Pass a Background Check

If screening flags an issue of significant concern, Home Depot may choose to begin rescinding the conditional job offer. They must do so following the Fair Credit Reporting Act. The FCRA requires a “pre-adverse action notice” that includes a copy of the background check used for employment decisions. Applicants may then initiate a dispute or provide additional information or context. Home Depot must then alert their background check partner, who will investigate the claim.

In some cases, disputes may lead to reversing the original decision and extending a final job offer. In other cases, Home Depot may stick to its original decision. If so, applicants receive a final adverse action notice explaining their rights.

Know What to Expect Before You Apply

Because of Home Depot’s ban-the-box policy, applicants can expect a thorough suitability evaluation before vetting. That evaluation can help re-frame potentially negative information in someone’s background. For applicants interested in working at the company, it is important to understand what to expect when you apply. That understanding should also extend to what’s in your background check report.

With backgroundchecks.com, you can find out the answers and prepare for any speed bumps in the hiring process. Order your own background check report and examine it closely. When preparing for a Home Depot background check, pulling your history first can help provide peace of mind. It might also indicate that you should prepare for a conversation with the hiring manager. See how simple it is to order your report and get started today.